AFTER more than a decade away, Ryan McNish is returning to Inglewood as co-coach of the Blues in the Loddon Valley Football-Netball League.
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McNish will co-coach the Blues with Jon Starr, who has led Inglewood for the past two seasons.
McNish played 76 under-17 games for Inglewood between 2001 and 2005 – winning the 2005 best and fairest – before making the move into the Bendigo league to play with Kangaroo Flat, where he has played 90 senior games.
Since leaving the Blues McNish, 27, has also had a stint with White Hills in the Heathcote District league and at Southern Districts in the Northern Territory.
“I always wanted to go back to Inglewood, but it has just been getting the timing right,” McNish said this week.
“They have been a bit of the whipping boy in the Loddon Valley for a long time, but I’m going to be realistic about it.
“I just want to do what I can to help while I’ve still got a few good years left in me, hopefully.
“I’m sure Jon has got a few key things he wants to implement and I’ll try to bring in a few ideas from the numerous coaches I’ve had at Kangaroo Flat, where there has been a bit of turnover.”
Inglewood last made the senior finals in 2003 and hasn’t won a senior premiership since 1986, but after years in the doldrums there were positive signs of improvement this year in what was the club’s 140th celebration season.
The Blues’ tally of five wins came on the back of the club winning just four games over the previous five years.
“With five wins this year, you’d hope you could build on that with at least another two or three next year and that starts to get you knocking on the door of the finals,” McNish said.
“The club has been down for a long time, so hopefully, we can continue to make some inroads.”
The Blues reserves will be coached by Tim Hawken, who was this year a joint coach of the under-18s, which were beaten by YCW by two points in the grand final.
“Tim is knowledgeable and passionate about his football and will be looking to not only build on last last season in the reserves (the Blues finished fourth), but also to develop some of the junior talent he brought to the club into future senior footballers, which is a key for the club,” president Andrew Nevins said.
Leigh Lamprell, who was a co-coach of the under-18s this year, will continue in the role next season.
“Leigh’s record speaks for itself and we look forward to another great year for our juniors,” Nevins said.